Atlanta Hawks: Camp Report Day 12
Here’s what Larry Drew had to say today about Jannero Pargo, who was officially signed and immediately designated the backup to Jeff Teague:
“Very similar to Jeff, he’s a point guard who can score. But the experience itself is very valuable.”
In my assessment of Pargo last night, I didn’t note that he does have a pretty good scoring rate. In fact, his per-36 minute scoring averages over the last five seasons are comparable to what Jamal Crawford provided last season.
And in the context of the Hawks, Pargo’s experience is valuable. It was not feasible to start the season with one of Pape Sy, Donald Sloan or Brad Wanamaker as the backup point guard, especially since the schedule is so demanding. So adding a veteran, even a marginal one, provides some stability for the Hawks.
But if the goal was to add some scoring punch to the bench on the cheap, the Hawks got a scorer who is less efficient than Jamal because he doesn’t shoot as well and doesn’t get to the line as often. As John Hollinger wrote in his assessment of Pargo (Insider): “He can be useful if a team is desperate enough for shot creating that it doesn’t really care so much about the accuracy of said shots.”
Pargo’s career turnover and assist rates are also lower than Jamal’s. Pargo does represent an upgrade defensively and is a better rebounder (even at his size) but that was going to happen with most replacements. I guess Pargo can help with Drew’s plan to be a more energetic defensive team but he’s too small to play the two on any kind of regular basis.
In any event, we’ll see what Pargo can do on this team. He sounded enthusiastic about getting his next chance with a good squad.
“Kirk [Hinrich] is out so you need somebody that can come in and spell Teague a few minutes here and there and help that second unit not drop off as much from the starters,” he said. “I think I’m a guy that can come in and provide energy, defensive effort and hopefully help win some games.”
Pargo said his experience should help him quickly learn Atlanta’s offensive and defensive systems. He got a crash course on the offense today and so far likes what he sees: “Great stuff. A lot of passing, moving, cutting, backdoor. I think it’s a great offense so hopefully I learn it pretty quickly and get acclimated here.”
Camp report
- Drew’s assessment of last night’s game after breaking down the video: “I thought there were some pretty good things but I also thought we reverted back to some old habits. We have got to be a little more focused if we are trying to do some things different defensively. We have to understand exactly what we are trying to accomplish. As I told the team before the first practice, I don’t want to be a team that sits back and lets the other team do what they want to do. I want to create havoc. In order to do that you have to have everyone on the same page.”
- Charlotte got a lot of clean looks from the 3-point line last night, even when the Hawks had starters on the floor. “The concern was the effort to get the 3-point shooters,” Drew said. “As I told the guys, we have to exert our energy from the start of the shot clock till the end. It’s going to take multiple efforts. There were possessions where that didn’t happen and as a result Charlotte got some open looks.”
- Drew said the Hawks have been better with closing out during drills: “I’ve seen guys come from one corner to the other corner. Last night, a guy at the elbow just watched the guy. It has to become habit-forming. When playing against a team that is a 3-point shooting team, you have to be on your horse. You have to be committed to taking that extra step.”
- Hinrich participated in a 3-point shooting drill with Pargo and was making them at a high clip. He said he still lacks strength and full range of motion in the shoulder.
- My fantasy basketball team name: Pick-and-Pape Sy.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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275 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
December 21st, 2011
5:27 pm
Truth B. Told ,
For one thing, Al has the accolades and is a good guy on and off the court. Translation – Gearon likes him a lot, which means he is loathe to move him.
For another, you don’t get the accolades Al has by accident. So if you’re going to give up a guy who has made the all-star team and all-NBA….you better be getting something that helps you in both the short and long term. Otherwise, you screwed up. Teams don’t give up guys like this unless that guy wants OUT and they stand a chance at losing him with no compensation, or unless they are convinced that they can get better by moving him.
First, it takes some creativity and actual keen basketball knowledge….Gearon clearly lacks this. He doesn’t understand that the roster is unbalanced….STILL. He also doesn’t get that you don’t promote an assistant coach to head coach just because your most talented players say they want him to have the job. If you do that, you’re letting the inmates run the asylum and ignoring such things as resumes of guys who have already done the job. What about LD made Gearon think he was most qualified to be a HC over guys like Dwayne Casey and the Little General (Avery Johnson)?
Back to Horford…he has the potential to get better, and he WILL get better. The question is how . If him getting better means being a better post player, then trading him is not likely to be a good idea. If he’s going to get better as a stretch 4 type of guy, then I say trade him and get all you can. Because Josh is NOT a hit a SF, and never will be. He’s a better 4, much like Tyrus Thomas.
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 21st, 2011
5:28 pm
Sam Dalembert’s 2-year deal w/ Houston pays $7M in ‘11-12, w/ team option for $7M in ‘12-13, sources say. If option declined, $1.5M buyout.
Big Ray
December 21st, 2011
5:33 pm
Now….there is plenty about Sund to make one think that giving him free reign ain’t the best idea. But…he knows more about how to run things than Gearon ever will.
What is so frustratingly baffling about Gearon is the fact that he wants to hoard this core all to himself and not break it up, but he refuses to even listen to his own GM (who, as I heard it told, wanted Dwayne Casey for HC) when it comes to acquiring a totally different guy who might actually be able to get more out of these guys than anyone else has.
But no….he won’t do it. And it will take a failure by this group to move away from the Woodson/Drew “sameness” that we keep seeing.
Aggravating. But we’ll deal with it again.
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 21st, 2011
5:35 pm
What do you mean Horford WILL get better and trade him if he becomes a stretch 4?
Again, the stretch 4 is a player, who can stretch the defense to the perimeter and guard the 4 position.
young Rashard Lewis, Dirk, Ryan Anderson, young Brian Cardinal
Rasheed Wallace, Detlef Schrempf, Tom Gugliotta, Jon Leuer
The problem is Horford will never be a stretch 4.
vava74
December 21st, 2011
6:02 pm
I prefer Najeh’s stretch 4…
vava74
December 21st, 2011
6:02 pm
… Also Dominicana!
Ken Strickland
December 21st, 2011
6:19 pm
RUFUS1-Matt Moore must be extremely sentimental and values past accomplishments if he rates the Celtics, Spurs and Knicks ahead of the Hawks. Here’s why I say that.
CELTICS-Without going into depth, they must have the NBAs oldest starting lineup, and their bench has very little height, size, or scoring potential.
SPURS-They are now so thin a SG that Ginobili is now starting. Here are their backups(Starters)
PF-NBonner(TDuncan)
PG-TJ Ford, Cory Joseph(TParker)
SG-Gregg Neal, James Anderson(MGinobili)
SF-Kauhi Leonard, Daniel Green(RJefferson)
OC-DeJuan Blair(Tiago Splitter).
KNICKS-Their bench is even less of a threat than the Spurs. Here are their backups.
PG-MBibby, BDavis(TDouglas)
SG-Iman Shumpart(Landry Fields)
SF-Bill Walker, RBlackmon(CAnthony)
PF-Jared Jefferies, Chris Hunter(AStaudemire)
OC-Jerome Jordan, Josh Harrellson(TChandler)
And you say the Hawks have a weak bench? Most of the players on the Spurs and Knicks bench are unknown, and there’s very little scoring potential on either bench. The Celtics starters are just old and fragile, and their bench is lacking in size and height. These 3 teams will fall victim to the rigors of the condensed schedule for a variety of reasons.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 21st, 2011
6:24 pm
What he Learned?
The most significant coach Drew said about this team in an interview after the Bulls won round 2 was:
“I learned some things about this team that I never knew as an assistant” -paraphrased Drew-
______________
I would love to hear what he learned and how that will change his coaching perspective this year. And, from the tone in his words – they weren’t good things of praise.
______________
MC? When you have an opportunity can you please ask coach Drew what it is he learned about his players after being the head guy last season? And, how will he approach things differently?
One thing is for sure, Drew will be coaching for his job. Who is Drew? What is he worth?
Ken Strickland
December 21st, 2011
6:26 pm
I just found out I won’t be able to see the Hawks gm since it won’t be shown on NBA TV.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 21st, 2011
6:50 pm
Fox Sports South
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 21st, 2011
6:58 pm
Nique & Bob?
Bob “spider monkey” Rathbun says, “Bang! Jamal hits a three and he was fouled on the play!!! He’s the all time leader on 4 point plays!”
I will miss that. And, Bob says, “tricky dribbles.”
I for one, can’t wait till the season tips off.
STRETCH
December 21st, 2011
7:03 pm
Blazers now NOT interested in signing Joel Przybilla.
Anyone on here know anything about this guy? Hows he doing these days?
Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter/media.html#ixzz1hDVNuv9n
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 21st, 2011
7:06 pm
You guys do know the Spurs are in the Western Conference…
=====
Strickland, it seems those are the teams that this Moore feller would take over our little barnstorming squad in 7 games.
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 21st, 2011
7:09 pm
STRETCH- A stop gap center who was past his prime and has contemplated retirement several times.
He comes to Atlanta he’s s not going to anchor your defense, he’s not going to delude himself into thinking he’s some sort of final piece, he’s not thinking championship and you will complain when he averages 2ppg.
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 21st, 2011
7:12 pm
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
Mario.Wade.Lebron.Bosh.Joel
Rufus1
December 21st, 2011
7:22 pm
@Ken
I think these NBA analysts look at the “STARS” on a roster and make a prediction based on who’s their favorite player.
Age doesn’t matter.
Position doesn’t matter
Injury history doesn’t matter
They want their favorite players to be good so bad, that they make these prediction in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary….That is why I WATCH THE GAMES MYSELF.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 21st, 2011
7:22 pm
Fork!
Stick a fork in the Magic – they’re done. Dwight looks like his heart is not into it. The Heat are ballin’.
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 21st, 2011
7:23 pm
Orlando…rebuild.
Jason Richardson and Quentin Richardson… I would have taken the NJN deal for Gerald Wallace and shopped Lopez.
in a few years… get some picks.
Eric Gordon
Iguodala
Gerald Wallace
Ryan Andersen
Emeka Okafor
doc
December 21st, 2011
7:30 pm
to those still pining away like having lost their lover over jordan crawford, the guy is till gunning at a 1-9 clip behind the arc and 9-31 overall. he will shoot hos way to the bench.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 21st, 2011
7:36 pm
User I’d!
Damn! Jeff.Joe – fix your sign on man. I can’t even read what the hella you’re tryin’ to say? I scroll past all your stuff. The first couple of words are typed over!
Take a blog etiquette call maane. Just call yourself:
Leur (homo?)
Sautee
December 21st, 2011
7:41 pm
Big Ray,
“For another, you don’t get the accolades Al has by accident.”
That’s right Ray, it wasn’t an accident. It was a conspiracy by the other coaches to name Horford, so he would re-sign with us and we’d be stuck with an undersized center. Don’t you remember?
Or at least that’s was Truth B Told’s theory.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 21st, 2011
7:46 pm
They Know!
Hello doc dear!
They know JC2 sux … some people just like to complain for the sake of complaining. Move on people, there is nothing to see here. (rubber necking) loL!
___________
Have Miami made any significant upgrades? They will compete with the Bulls for the 1 spot. Hawks could slide into the 3 spot if they stop shooting themselves in the foot with all those dumb HERO plays, (ahem … Josh?).
Jesse
December 21st, 2011
7:50 pm
Bring back Mario West.
doc
December 21st, 2011
7:53 pm
dmb i am afraid pargo is going to miss em as well as jc2 would. just think he will stay more in the mode of the team though and less a loose cannon.
Michael Cunningham
December 21st, 2011
7:56 pm
new blog is posted. shutting down this thread.